Charge port door system

A charge port door system, comprising:

• a housing;
• a guide housing fixed to the housing, wherein the guide housing includes a guide projection;
• a door configured to cover a portion of the housing;
• and
• a door actuator fixed to the door, wherein the door actuator comprises:
• an electric motor,
• an actuator member configured to linearly move and rotate by the electric motor,
• wherein the guide housing is configured to receive the actuator member therein,
• wherein the actuator member comprises a first guide groove extending straightly along a longitudinal direction thereof, and a second guide groove extending spirally from the first guide groove,
• wherein the first guide groove and the second guide groove are provided in an outer surface of the actuator member,
• wherein the guide projection is configured to be received in the first guide groove and the second guide groove, and
• wherein the actuator member includes an internal threaded portion therein,
• a lead screw including an external threaded portion on an outer peripheral surface thereof, wherein the lead screw is rotatably coupled to the electric motor and configured to be rotated by the electric motor, wherein the internal threaded portion of the actuator member meshes with and threadedly engages with the external threaded portion of the lead screw,
• wherein the charge port door system is configured such that rotation of the lead screw by the electric motor can cause an actuator-member motion of the actuator member, whereby the actuator-member motion of the actuator member can drive a door motion of the door, whereby the door can move between a first retracted cover position, a second partially-outwardly-extended cover position, and a third rotated-outwardly-extended uncover position, wherein the housing is covered and sealed by the door in the first retracted cover position of the door, and wherein the housing is exposed and accessible in the third rotated-outwardly-extended uncover position of the door, and wherein the door is pivoted relative to the housing in the third rotated-outwardly-extended uncover position.

A charge port door system, comprising:

• a housing;
• a guide housing fixed to the housing, wherein the guide housing includes a guide projection;
• a door configured to cover a portion of the housing;
• and
• a door actuator fixed to the door, wherein the door actuator comprises:
• an electric motor,
• an actuator member configured to linearly move and rotate by the electric motor,
• wherein the guide housing is configured to receive the actuator member therein,
• wherein the actuator member comprises a first guide groove extending straightly along a longitudinal direction thereof, and a second guide groove extending spirally from the first guide groove,
• wherein the first guide groove and the second guide groove are provided in an outer surface of the actuator member,
• wherein the guide projection is configured to be received in the first guide groove and the second guide groove, and
• wherein the actuator member includes an internal threaded portion therein,
• a lead screw including an external threaded portion on an outer peripheral surface thereof, wherein the lead screw is rotatably coupled to the electric motor and configured to be rotated by the electric motor, wherein the internal threaded portion of the actuator member meshes with and threadedly engages with the external threaded portion of the lead screw,
• wherein the charge port door system is configured such that rotation of the lead screw by the electric motor can cause an actuator-member motion of the actuator member, whereby the actuator-member motion of the actuator member can drive a door motion of the door, whereby the door can move between a first retracted cover position, a second partially-outwardly-extended cover position, and a third rotated-outwardly-extended uncover position, wherein the housing is covered and sealed by the door in the first retracted cover position of the door, and wherein the housing is exposed and accessible in the third rotated-outwardly-extended uncover position of the door, and wherein the door is pivoted relative to the housing in the third rotated-outwardly-extended uncover position,
• wherein the door actuator further includes an actuator housing receiving the electric motor, and a guide sleeve extending from the actuator housing toward the door,
• wherein the guide sleeve is received in the guide housing,
• wherein the actuator member is movably received in the guide sleeve, and
• wherein the outer surface of the actuator member is configured to match an inner surface of the guide sleeve.